Údarás na Gaeltachta recently announced that 58 new jobs will be created in companies based in the Galway and Kerry Gaeltachts.

 

Bioniche Pharma in Indreabhán, Connemara is to create 25 new jobs over the next three years in a new purpose built state-of-the-art R&D pharmaceutical facility which was recently developed adjacent to its existing manufacturing site in Indreabhán. This new facility was developed by Údarás na Gaeltachta at a cost of €2.5 million.

 

Bioniche Pharma is a fully integrated globally active specialty pharmaceutical company focused on manufacturing specialty injectable products. It has sales in over 50 countries worldwide and employs 160 people in Indreabhán.  This new R&D facility, which was officially opened in November, will facilitate the expansion of the company’s pipeline development initiatives in pharmaceutical development.

 
Speaking at the official opening, Chief Financial Officer of Bioniche Pharma, Damien Kelly said “This expansion and investment in R&D underscores our continued commitment to building our product pipeline and is a big step towards securing the future growth of our business and employment in the Galway area.”

 

Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, Chairman of Údarás na Gaeltachta said that Údarás was very pleased to be able to facilitate the expansion of Bioniche Pharma’s R&D activities in the Connemara Gaeltacht. “The high-quality employment opportunities that this state investment will create are very important to the area and it also strengthens the company’s roots in the Irish economy and specifically in the Gaeltacht. This venture is a good example of how Údarás works with its client-companies to help them develop and expand their business.”

 

In Dingle, 33 new full-time jobs will be created over the next 3 years in a new joint initiative between McGivern Flynn & Co and the Irish division of IFG Group plc.

 

This new business venture, which is supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta, sees the establishment of a backoffice support and services contact centre that will offer a range of insurance packages to customers throughout Ireland.

 

The operation will be up and running by January 2010 and recruitment has commenced. A total 5 people will be employed initially and recruitment will continue as the business expands.

  
Speaking at the announcement, Barry Darmody, Managing Director, IFG Property Division, said that “While the business will initially focus on the existing client base within the IFG network, we hope to be able to make similar offerings to external clients as we expand the operation. Dingle was the natural choice for us as we were highly impressed by the quality of facilities on offer in the Údarás na Gaeltachta Business Park. The availability of an experienced and skilled labour pool in the local area was also a major draw to the location.”

 

Pádraig Ó hAoláin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta said that the venture was a good example of Údarás’s development strategy which targets the modern services sector for employment generation investment in the Gaeltacht. “The number and quality of jobs that this business venture will create is vitally important to Corca Dhuibhne and the decision by both companies to locate the operation in An Daingean shows a huge vote of confidence in the area’s ability to meet the business venture’s staffing, telecommunications and infrastructural needs.”